Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-02-05
Knights of Labor.

collecting and colating information
upon the subject of labor, its rela-
ton to capital, the hours of labor, the
earnings of laboring men and women,
their educational. moral and financial
condition. and the best means of
promoting their mental, material,
social and moral prosperity.
The state assembly was unanimous
in It's support of this measure and
Messrs. J. NJ. Broughten, of Raj
eigh; W. F. Rogers. of Oxford, and
John Holloway. Of Wilmington, were
appointed a committee to ask It's
passage by the legislature. The
following resolution was adopted
early in the session:
Whereas, we regard the passage,
by the Congress of the United States,
of the education bill. known as the
Blair bill las of very vital Importance TO
the laboring class of the south,
Therefore, Resolved, That we
address communications to the Senators
and Representatives from this state,
asking them to urge the passage Of
said Blair bill
The following resolution was adopted:
resolved, While it is the duty of
ali our public servants to care for the
interest of all classes of citizens, yet
it is a we'll known fact that this is not
generally the case. Too often the
interest of the poor and humble are
neglected and often sacrificed to the
promotion of the interests of the rich
and powerful. Therefore, when we
see in public servants friend and
and protector, We feel that we should
recognize them as our friends.
Entertaining this view we feel that the
thanks of this assembly are due to Mr..
Thos. Sutton, representative from
Cumberland county in the present
legislature, for his earnest advocacy
of the amendments to the mechanics
and laborers lien law recently passed
by that body; also to Mr.. L. S.
Overman for the position be took in
reference to the farming out of con-
victs on the public roads, as well as
to the other members who supported
these measures.
Resolutions of fraternal greetings
were sent to the farmers mass conven-
ton as follows:
The North Carolina State assembly
sends fraternal greetings to the
farmers mass convention, now in
session in this city, and bids them
God speed in their efforts to elevate
and better the condition of that great
band of earth's toilers, the farmers of
our country"
On the convict question the follow
ing was passed;
The employment of convict labor in
any capacity where it comes into
competition with free labor, is unjust
to the honest workers. tends to increase
crime. and should not be tolerated.
That short time convicts should be used
in lettering the county roads, and no
convict labor given to private corpo-
rations without adequate remuneration
to the State
A resolution was also passed asking
that the Legislature pass law making
it unlawful to offer for sale any prison.
made goods in this state unlcs they be
plainly stamped ''prison-made. >
Also asking for law that ten hours
shall constitute legal days work,
and that employers shall give the same
notice to an employee before disc
charge, that they require from an
employee before he shall quit their
service. except for incapacity or
immoral conduct.
The following are the officers for
the present year. elected and installed
at this session of the assembly:
State master workman, John
Nichols, of Raleigh, N. c.; state
worthy foreman, John, w. Gordon
Charlotte, N. c.; state recording
secretary, John r. Ray, Raleigh,
n. c., state financial secretary. J. b.
Beckwith Smithfield, n. c.; state
treasurer, d. r. Julian, Salisbury, N.
c.: state inspector, George j.
Tonnoaski, Raleigh, N. c.; state
venerable sage, w. p. Wemyss,
Fayetteville, n. G. state staiistician,
j. NJ. Broughton, Raleigh, n. G. );
state inside esquire, d. L. Kaufman,
Durham. n. c.; state outside esquire,
John Nelson, Greensboro, N. G.
Members a; large of the state executive
board: w. +. Rogers Oxford, n c.;
j. b. White. Henderson, \. G. Frank
johnson, Raleigh, n c.; S.. Ellison,
Wilmington. n. c.
1t NAV be laid down as n rule that